Young Adult Titles

Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Book Summary: Bartoletti tells this story from the viewpoints of the people who experienced it by using letters, diaries, and her own interviews of Holocaust survivors, bystanders, and Hitler Youth. She takes the reader on journey from post-war through Hitler’s reign of terror and deftly explains the prominent role of Hitler Youth.

My Impressions: This is a compelling story that explains the role of young Germans in the rise to power of Adolf Hitler. It is a riveting example of non-fiction that will capture and hold reader’s attention.

Reviews: “The handsome book design, with black-and-white historical photos on every double-page spread, will draw in readers and help spark deep discussion, which will extend beyond the Holocaust curriculum. The extensive back matter is a part of the gripping narrative.”
Booklist starred (April 15, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 16))

“Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.”-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
School Library Journal (June 1, 2005)

“While many books for the young have chronicled the experiences of Hitler's victims, far fewer have looked at the impact of Nazi ideology on those who subscribed to it. As Bartoletti writes in the preface to this provocative account, ‘Hitler counted on Germany's boys and girls.’"
Horn Book (May/June, 2005)


The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler

Book Summary: Blonde, plump Virginia Shreves doesn’t feel as though she belongs in her family of dark-haired, beautiful, thin people. She’s fifteen-years old, and exists somewhere between ordinary and dorky in her private Manhattan high school. Virginia is extremely lonely since her best friend has moved away, and would love to have a boyfriend, but settles for a non-committal make-out sessions with Froggy Welsh every Monday. Virginia spends much of her energy hiding her true feelings, eating for comfort, and loathing her chubby body. After the brother she idolizes is charged with “date-rape” and moves home, Virginia begins to understand the depth of her family’s dysfunction, and realizes that the only way she can belong anywhere, even in her own family, is to stand up and be herself.

My Impressions: The Earth . . . is definitely a girl novel, and although many of the issues are about Virginia’s weight, every girl can identify with her in some way. This book is highly readable, and I found it quite enjoyable.

Reviews: Mackler does a fine job introducing girls to a very cool chick with a little meat on her bones.
Horn Book (September/October, 2003)

Told through first-person narrative, journal entries, and e-mail, Virginia's story will interest readers who are looking for one more book with teen angst, a bit of romance, and a kid who is a bit like them or their friends.-Gail Richmond, San Diego Unified Schools, CA
School Library Journal (September 1, 2003)


Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Book Summary: Instead of moving to Florida with her mother, seventeen-year-old Isabella Swan leaves Phoenix to live with her father in the small, dreary town of Forks, Washington. Despite her shy, understated demeanor, Bella becomes intrigued by and quickly involved with Edward Cullen, a handsome, mysterious, too perfect senior in high school. She discovers that his perfection is due to the fact that he is not human – he’s a vampire, and so intoxicated by the scent of her blood that her life is in danger every time she’s around him. Edward explains that he and the entire Cullen family prey on wild animals and not humans. Deeply in love, but acutely aware of the danger, Edward and Bella have to carefully maneuver through the intimacies of their relationship – touching and kissing take on a whole new meaning. Meyers inserts more danger and suspense by adding a threesome of nomadic “non-vegetarian” vampires who enter Cullen territory and quickly target Bella. The final chapters of the book become a race against time and a battle that pits vampire against vampire in a frantic attempt to save Bella’s life.

My Impressions: Before reading this book, my first thought was “I don’t like vampire books.” Stephenie Meyer definitely changed my mind. This eloquent narrative is a satisfying mix of some of my favorite elements - sensual dialogue and page-turning action. Edward and Bella’s romance is full of forbidden love, danger, discovery, and self-sacrifice. I think that much of the appeal of this novel is in the fact that Bella’s character represents every girl in some way, and this romance sweeps its readers off their feet.

Reviews: “Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth into it.” Hillias J. Martin, New York Public Library, School Library Journal (October 1, 2005).

“Their love is palpable, heightened by their touches, and teens will respond viscerally. There are some flaws here--a plot that could have been tightened, an overreliance on adjectives and adverbs to bolster dialogue--but this dark romance seeps into the soul.” Booklist starred (November 15, 2005 (Vol. 102, No. 6))


Looking for Alaska by John Green

Book Summary: Sixteen-year-old Miles Halter leaves his uneventful life in Florida to attend a boarding school in Alabama. Miles memorizes the last words of famous people and in words of poet Rabelais, views his time in Alabama as his “Great Perhaps”. He spends the school year learning to drink, smoke, and carry out elaborate school pranks with his two friends Chip, who is referred to as “The Colonel”, and every-boys’-dream, dark and sultry, Alaska Young. After a night of heavy drinking, a depressed and distraught Alaska, leaves campus in the early hours of the morning, speeds down the highway, crashes her car, and is killed instantly. Chip and Miles spend the remainder of the school year morning the loss of their friend, wondering whether it was an accident or suicide, and contemplating deep philosophical questions about life and death.

My Impressions: This haunting book will captivate readers with its dark humor, self-deprecating and complicated characters, realistic teen dialogue, and startling climax and aftermath. This book was difficult to read, but just as difficult to put down.

Reviews: “Like Phineas in John Knowles's A Separate Peace (S & S, 1960), Green draws Alaska so lovingly, in self-loathing darkness as well as energetic light, that readers mourn her loss along with her friends.” -Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library
School Library Journal (February 1, 2005)

“Looking for Alaska will haunt readers with its memorable characters, its literary and philosophical questions about life and death that so fascinate teens and its ultimate affirmation of a life lived fully.” Highly Recommended. Catherine M. Andronik, Library Media Specialist, Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk, Connecticut
Library Media Connection (November/December 2005)



The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean

Book Summary: Fourteen-year-old Symone Wates is whisked away for the adventure of a lifetime to the South Pole by her Uncle Victor, a close family friend who stepped in to help after her father died. Victor always paid special attention to Sym, and never seemed to view her hearing impairment or painful shyness as disabilities. Sym’s best friend and confidant is Captain Laurence “Titus” Oates, an explorer with Robert Scott on their failed expedition to the South Pole, who exists as a figment of her mind. Uncle Victor and Sym had always shared a love of “The Ice”, and she gladly went with him in spite of the fact that her mother was left behind. After a series of unfortunate and suspicious events at their South Pole camp, Symone comes to the astonishing realization that her Uncle Victor is a very deranged person. His interest in the South Pole is centered around the myth of “Symmes Holes”, a concealed passage to a new world within the earth, and his intent for Symone is for her to be the beginning of new generations of inhabitants. After her Victor’s death, Symone is stranded on “The Ice” and must use strength that she doesn’t even realizes she has to survive.

My Impressions: This book was an interesting change of pace and completely unique from anything I’ve ever read. Although the story develops slowly, and readers that lack perseverance may put it down after the first few chapters, I found all the elements of the story, especially the setting and imaginary “Titus” to be very intriguing. Although I expected a sinister element in Victor’s character from the beginning, the depth of his madness did catch me off guard. McCaughrean encourages readers to read the postscript if they are unfamiliar with the story of Captain Scott’s South Pole expedition in 1910. I read it at the beginning and felt that it was very important to my understanding of the story, especially the character of “Titus”.

Reviews: “Readers will find this a triply compelling tale: for its slow revelation of a deranged soul; for its young narrator, who turns out to be tougher than she or anyone else supposes; and for its wildly hostile setting, which quickly turns the secret expedition into a frantic struggle to survive.” Kirkus Review starred (December 1, 2006)

“What makes the book stand out is Sym's unique personality; her relationship with Titus; the slow revelation of Victor's malevolence; and McCaughrean's inspired wordplay and powerful imagery.” Horn Book starred (September, 2007)


Six Days in October: the Stock Market Crash of 1929 by Karen Blumenthal

Book Summary: Blumenthal chronicles the six desperate days in October of 1929 which changed the face of Wall Street. She chronicles the events leading up to the crash, then walks the reader through it day by day. This book is brought to life by stories about individuals such as Michael Meehan and the Radio Corporation, and Groucho Marx who lost his life savings. Blumenthal explains vocabulary and difficult concepts related to the market - such as the difference between a bull and a bear – and discusses the appearance of women for the first time in a financial setting.

My Impressions: I found this book to be a very interesting read; however, he subject may be foreign and the reading itself a bit dense for teenagers unfamiliar with the stock market. The book is attractive and makes an informative read for those looking for more information the stock market crash – a very poignant read considers today’s financial climate.

Reviews: Students using this for research may be frustrated by the source citations, which appear as an appended, generalized chapter-by-chapter listing of materials consulted rather than as specific notes that correspond to text passages. But this still offers a riveting history, along with the basic terminology needed to grasp the events and to draw parallels between the volatile, sometimes corrupt, market of 1929 and the market today.
Booklist (November 1, 2002 (Vol. 99, No. 5))

Chapter notes and other source material are included. Overall, this is a solid account of an important chapter in American history that offers more detail than Nathan Aaseng's The Crash of 1929 (Lucent, 2001).-Carol Fazioli, formerly at The Brearley School, New York City
School Library Journal (October 1, 2002)


Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson

Book Summary: Ashley Hannigan is a self-professed “ordinary kid” – her “no-extra-money-for-nothing” family is disorderly to say the least. With two working class parents – she’s mortified that her mom is pregnant again – and three rowdy little brothers, Ashley had rather be with TJ, her good-looking, drop-out boyfriend. Although Ashley thinks the prom is “stupid”, her best friend Natalia convinces her to help save it from cancellation after the crushing discovery that all the prom funds were stolen by their math teacher. Through this experience, Ashley begins a journey of self-discovery that leads her to the realization that she doesn’t have to settle – skimming by in school, a dead-end job, and a slummy apartment with TJ is not what she wants. The simple, yet engaging plot will hold readers’ interest, and the well-developed characters add depth and believability to the story.

My Impressions: This book is a quick and entertaining read. Teen girls will love the main character, Ashley Hannigan, and her unlikely involvement in saving the senior prom. She is cynical, which adds humor and a teenage mood to the story, without being over-powering. Anderson creates a wonderful, imperfect family dynamic that adds layers of depth to this story.

Reviews: “It's also full of sly throwaway references: oaths taken on a copy of Lord of the Rings instead of a Bible, Ash's dad singing Aerosmith, accounts that read, "he was all . . . I was all . . . then he was all." Expect teen readers to be quoting aloud to each other, and giggling.” Kirkus Review starred (January 15, 2005)

“Those looking for another Speak (Farrar, 1999) may be disappointed, but this book will delight readers who want their realism tempered with fun.” -Karyn N. Silverman, Elizabeth Irwin High School, New York City School Library Journal (February 1, 2005)


Players by Joyce Sweeney

Summary: Corey Brennan is beginning his senior year of basketball with high hopes that his team will win the all-city trophy this year. When newcomer, Noah Travers, exhibits his basketball skill at tryouts, Corey is excited about his addition to the team, but aggravated that the other team members, especially his best friend Luke, distrust Noah. However, when the team begins to fall apart, Corey suspects that Noah is systematically destroying the team, so begins to investigate and soon discovers Noah’s sadist plot. After setting a clever trap, Corey gets Noah to confess everything he has done to tear the team apart. The restored team, with Corey as their leader, go on to win the all-city championship.

My Impressions: I enjoyed this book and will definitely suggest it to reluctant readers. Although many aspects of the story are quite predictable, high school boys especially will like the sports theme and elements of mystery.

Reviews: Best of all, Sweeney does a great job of depicting male teenagers: though differing in background, social status, and intelligence, the major players on the team spring to life through authentic dialogue and realistic relationships. A great amalgam of suspense and sports, with plenty of on-court action, this novel is a real winner.
Booklist starred (October 1, 2000 (Vol. 97, No. 3))

Basketball fans may be disappointed that there isn't more on-the-court action, but the book scores as a fast-paced story of the unmasking of a sociopath.-Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
School Library Journal (September 2000)


Plain Janes by Cecil Castelucci

Book Summary: After Jane is nearly killed in a bombing, her parents move from Metro City to the suburbs. The intensity of her experience prompts Jane to reinvent herself, so she cuts her blonde hair short and dyes it dark, and refuses to be drawn in by the popular crowd in her new suburban school. Jane chooses to join a group of three misfits whose names also happen to be Jane – a brain, an actress, and an athlete. Main Jane is still saddened by the fact that a stranger, a young man who was beside her during the bombing, is still in a coma. Main Janes desire to see the beauty in life again prompts her, along with the other Janes, to plan and carry out art attacks – they put knit caps and scarves on fire hydrants, add bubbles to the fountain in the center of town, and others. Their group, called P.L.A.I.N. or People Loving Art In Neighborhoods, wins over many kids and people in the neighborhood, but is targeted by authorities. Main Jane does begin to see the beauty in the world again after she discovers that her comatose friend is out of the hospital and back home.

My Impressions: This graphic novel is layered and the characters are well-developed. I think that the subject matter, “art saves, is fresh and attention-grabbing.

Reviews: The book has its share of stereotypes--the science geek, the psychotically overprotective mother, the irrepressible gay teen--but this is thought-provoking stuff. The art, inspired by Dan Clowes'work, is absolutely engaging. Packaged like manga, this is a fresh, exciting use of the graphic-novel format.
Booklist starred (March 15, 2007 (Vol. 103, No. 14))

The graphic novel's core is Jane's struggle to see the world's beauty. Rugg's warm gray-scale scenes convey the drama, impact, and joy of unfettered expression.
Horn Book starred (September, 2007)


Copper Sun by Sharon Draper

Book Summary: Amari’s happy, simple life with her family in an Ashanti village is shattered when the slavers raid and loot the village, murdering her family and all others who aren’t able-bodied enough to be taken as slaves. After a horrific journey – she was striped, branded, and then methodically raped aboard the ship - Amari arrives in South Carolina where she is auctioned and sold to a plantation owner as a gift to his son for his sixteenth birthday. She becomes unlikely friends with a white indentured servant named Polly when they are forced to live in slave quarters and work together. After helping the plantation owner’s wife give birth to a black baby, Amari and Polly have no choice but to try to escape the master’s fury by running away. They begin a treacherous journey to Fort Mose, a Spanish mission in Florida they’ve heard is a solace for slaves. After they’re arrival at the Spanish settlement, Amari’s long-awaited freedom is marred by the realization that she is pregnant with the plantation owners son’s baby.

My Impressions: This is a beautifully written book. I disagree with some of the reviews that said this book’s ending was a bit too tidy; after all, Amari discovers that she is pregnant with the child of her abusive master. Is the ending hopefully? Yes, but definitely not overdone.

Reviews: The author also pulls her punches with a highly implausible happy ending. But after all that Amari has gone through, readers will likely find the conclusion a huge relief. Ages 14-up. (Jan.)
Publishers Weekly (January 9, 2006)

As readers embrace Amari and Polly, they will better understand the impact of human exploitation and suffering throughout history. In addition, they will gain a deeper knowledge of slavery, indentured servitude, and 18th-century sanctuaries for runaway slaves.-Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC
School Library Journal (January 1, 2006)